African nations have been asked to invest in sustainable solutions that could empower its growing but vulnerable youthful population.
A youth and women’s rights advocate, Bishop Joseph Kazembe who is founder and leader of a Christian youth organization, Youth Out International, said this on Friday at a two-day international youth conference in Lilongwe.
Kazembe said Africa’s youthful population has fallen prey to abuse and become victims of prostitution and drug and alcohol abuse because nations on the continent have not invested much in initiatives that would empower them with skills and education.
“Africa as a continent stands on the verge of losing its potential youthful population to rising social ills such as prostitution, drug and substance abuse, unless there are deliberate measures to empower them.
“Africa has the highest population of young people in the world and such a high population is an opportunity for the continent’s growth,” Kazembe told the conference which drew together Christian youths from Malawi and Zambia.
- Advertisement -
Kazembe said African governments and the Church should join hands to invest in programmes that could “reverse the debilitating socio-economic challenges which are driving the youth to destruction.”
“The future of African countries rests in its young population; therefore, there is need for nations to join hands with the Church on a journey to save the young people from destruction,” Kazembe said.
He condemned some political leaders who take advantage of the vulnerability of young people and use them as agents of destruction.
“We have to stop this; instead, we have to raise a generation of young people capable enough to lead and drive Africa on a path to prosperity.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
“The youth have the potential to create a new Africa and lead it but only if they are fully empowered,” he said.
Zambian Apostle Memory Phiri also told the conference that young people are a force for any change if fully utilised.
Established in 2018 in Malawi, Youth Out International is a non-partisan youth organisation working to advance human dignity, human rights and sustainable livelihoods of the youth, children and women in sub-Saharan Africa.
Since its inception, the organisation has among other things been working to reduce dropout rates in schools and sensitising youths on the dangers of some social ills.
